Combination dispenser



1957 'R. E. THoMPsoN 3,346,146

COMBINATION DISPENSER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 25, 1966 INVENTOR- ROBERT E. THOMPSON ATTORNEY5.

Get. 10, 1967 I R. E. THOMPSON I 3 7 V COMBINATION DISPENSER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 25, 1966 INVENTOR ROBERT E. THOMPSON ATTQRNEYJ;

United States Patent 3,346,146 COMBINATION DISPENSER Robert E. Thompson, Maplewood, N.J., assignor to Schering Corporation, Bloomfield, N.J., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Feb. 25, 1966, Ser. No. 530,220 4 Claims. (Cl. 222-189) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A dispenser having a container with an outlet opening and deformable side wall. An orifice carrying member having a dip tube depending therefrom is releasably disposed over the outlet opening. A foamer fitment is releasably carried by the orifice carrying member and a closure member is diposed thereover. The fitment has an opening therethrough with a porous element mounted across the opening. Upon deformation of the container side wall inwardly, liquid is directed through the dip tube to the outlet orifice to be sprayed on the porous element and foamed thereby.

This invention relates to an improved dispenser for medicaments and in particular to a combination dispenser which will dispense fluids in drop form, as a spray, or as a foam as desired by the user.

Medical practitioners often desire to dispense the same medicinal in difierent forms for the treatment of the same or dilferent illnesses and depending upon the nature of the illness or the zone to be medicated the medicinal may be dispensed in drop form, as a spray, or as a foam. In the past suitable dispensers have been available whereby a medical practitioner or a patient may properly dispense a medicament in a particular form; however, a combination dispenser which would, at the selection of the user, dispense the medicament in any one of the three forms has not been available.

It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to provide a simple relatively inexpensive medicinal dispenser which may be selectively operated to dispense its contents in drop form, in spray form, or as a highly desirable foam.

These objects of the present invention areprovided by a combination dispenser comprising a container having an outlet opening and a deformable sidewall, an orifice member releasably carried by the outlet opening, a dip tube depending from said outlet orifice for directing liquid from the container to the outlet orifice when the container sidewall is squeezed inwardly; gas passage means connecting the interior of the container and the outlet ori fice; a foamer fitment releasably carried by the outlet orifice member, said fitment having an opening therethrough and a porous element mounted in said fitment across said opening, and closure means for said dispenser.

The invention will be more fully described and other objects and advantages will become more apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary partial sectional view of a dispenser constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

FIGURE 1a is a section on line 1a--la of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 2 is an exploded view of the structures illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an exploded or disassembled view of a portion of the structures illustrated in FIGURES l and 2;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary partial sectional view of a modified form of the present invention;

3,345,146 Patented Oct. 10, 1967 FIGURE 5 is a disassembled view of the structures illustrated in FIGURE 4; and

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary view on line 6-6 of the structures shown in FIGURE 5.

Referring to the drawings and in particular to FIG- URES 1 and 2, 10 generally designates an improved combination dispenser of the present invention. The dispenser 10 includes a container 12, preferably constructed of molded plastic, having a sidewall 14, which may be deformed by inward pressure to produce a pressure within the container for use in dispensing the contents thereof as to be more fully described hereinafter.

The container 12 is provided with an upstanding neck portion 16 having external threads 18 thereabout. Slidably and releasably received in the bore of the neck portion 16 is an outlet orifice forming member generally designed 20. The member 20 has a sloping, generally conical, wall portion 22 which facilitates the insertion of the member 20 within the neck portion of the container and a dispensing head portion 24. Between the head portion and the container neck receiving portion is a flange 26, the lower surface of which engages the upper peripheral edge of the neck 16 of the container 12 when the outlet forming member 20 is in its installed position, as illustrated in the drawing.

The entire outlet orifice forming member 20 is of hollow construction and the upper end terminates in an outlet opening 28. About the lower end of the outlet opening 28 is a bore 30 which is sized to snugly receive within the bore the dispenser dip tube 32, to maintain the dip tube in its illustrated depending position, whereby when the container sidewall 14 is squeezed inwardly, medicament within the container is forced upwardly through the dip tube 32.

The assembly also includes a pair of passages 28' which connect the upper end of the container with the discharge end of the dip tube 32 whereby when the container is squeezed air or gas within the container causes the stream of medicament to be broken up int-o fine drops and the material issues from the orifice as a spray.

Air channels, retangular in cross-section and approximately inch wide and inch deep provide very satisfactory results.

As illustrated in the drawings the discharged end por tion 24 of the nozzle member may be provided with a plurality of longitudinal grooves 34, which longitudinal grooves provide pressure relief passages when the dispenser is employed to discharge a spray into a body orifice such as a nostril.

The assembly also includes a foamer fitment 36. The

- lower portion of the fitment is provided with internal threads 40 which mate with threads 18 on the outer surface of the neck portion 16 of the container 12 whereby the fitment 36 may be releasably secured to the container.

It will be noted that when the fitment is in its threaded prise a fine nylon netting which causes the medicament and air issuing as a spray from the outlet 28 to foam,

when suitable foaming agents are incorporated in the medicinal composition.

The assembly may also include a foam receiving chamber member 44 which is releasably secured to the outer surface of the foamer fitment 36. In the illustrated form 'of the invention the foamer chamber member has a tapered inner wall which mates with the tapered outer wall of the foamer fitment. The frictional engagement between these two tapered surfaces maintains the assembled relationship between the foam receiving chamber member and the foamer fitment. It will be particularly noted that the foam receiving chamber member 44 has an upper tapered surface portion 46 similar in construction to the tapered portion of the outlet member 24 whereby the tip portion 46 may be inserted in a body orifice adapted to receive the foamed medicinal contained within the interior of the foamer chamber.

The lower portion of the foam receiving chamber is provided with external thread 50 which mate with internal threads 52 on a closure cover member generally designated 54.

In operation, of the device illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawings, upon removing closure cap member 54 the dispenser may be utilized to dispense a foamed medicament into the foam receiving chamber 44 by squeezing the flexible sidewalls 14 of the container 12 with the device held in a generally upright position. The contents of the container fiow through the dip tube 32 out of the outlet orifice 28 through the fine mesh porous member 42, where foam is produced, and the foam flows into the interior of the foam receiving chamber 44. Material is dispensed therefrom by removing the chamber 44 from the assembly and inserting the tapered end portion 46 into the nostril and sniffing the material into the area to be treated.

If the device is to be employed to produce a spray the lower fluted surface 56 of the foamer fitment 36 is grasped and unscrewed from the cooperating threads 18 on the neck portion 16 of the container 12. With the fitment 36 removed a quick squeeze on the sidewalls of the container will produce a fine spray in conventional manner.

If the user of the device desires to drop-wise medicate an infected area the top portion 24 of the outlet nozzle is grasped and the entire element 20 is removed from the container. The dip tube 32 then contains several drops of the medicine which may be applied in drop-wise manner from the end of the dip tube 32. Drops may also be obtained by turning the container upside down and slowly squeezing the side wall 14.

Referring to FIGURE 3 of the drawing there is illustrated the device of FIGURES 1 and 2 with the foam fitment and foam receiving chamber removed therefrom and the closure cap portion 54 separated from the foam receiving chamber. The cooperating threads 50, 52 and 18 on the dispenser are of uniformed character whereby the closure cap 54 may be received directly onto the threads 18 so that the foaming attachment device for the dispenser need not be assembled to the unit unless dispensing of foam is desired. In FIGURE 3 reference characters corresponding to those utilized in the description of FIGURES 1 and 2 have been employed throughout.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that in addition to the utility of providing a plural optional dosage form of dispenser, it will be apparent that various types of foams and aerosols will be produced depending upon the particular configuration of the outlet orifices, the foaming screen and the foam composition. The liquid formulations can be varied as known in the art to produce fast breaking foams, slow breaking foams or to vary the fineness of the bubble size of the foams. Further, the screen or porous unit can be varied as to mesh size, composition, thickness, area, etc. to modify the foam characteristics. Further the wall thickness and the size of the squeeze bottle can be varied to affect the ease of operation of the device and the volume of foam or spray produced from one squeeze. It will be particularly noted that the size of the air bypass and dip tube lumen also can be varied to affect the foam characteristics.

A very satisfactory device was provided with a .032

inch lumen dip tube and produced an excellent spray or foam; whereas a 0.022 inch lumen dip tube produced a very fine spray, but not as satisfactory a foam. Further, experiments have shown that dip tubes of, for example, about 0.052 inch or larger lumen will produce a jet of liquid in place of the spray while with the foam produc ing attachment in place a very satisfactory foam will be produced.

Where it is desired to carry the foam further into the nasal cavities a modified foam chamber may be employed with the device as illustrated in FIGURES 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings. Referring to these figures, where like structures have been provided with primed referenced characters, 10 generally designates an improved combination dispensing device. The dispensing device 10 includes a container 12 for the materials to be dispensed which container is provided with a neck portion 16'. Within the neck portion 16' is received a spray dispenser, not specifically shown in this form of the invention but which may take the form illustrated in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3.

The neck portion 16' of the container 12 is externally threaded and receives the internal threads at the lower end of the foamer fitment 36'. The foamer fitment 36' is likefoamer fitment 36 illustrated in FIGURES 1 through 3 and a portion of the external surface of the fitment is provided with external threads 60.

The external threads 60 have mating engagement with internal threads 62 provided at the lower end of an enlongated foam receiving chamber member 64. The elongated foam receiving chamber member 64 has a tapered upper end 66 which facilitates insertion of the end well into a users nostril. In view of the substantially larger volume of chamber 64 compared to the chamber 44 of the foamer of the invention shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, the overall length of the combination dispenser is maintained at a minimum by roviding the device with a modified form of closure member. In FIGURES 4 and 5 the closure member comprises a small cap screw member 68 which is externally threaded at 70 and which threads are engageable with internal threads 72 provided in the inner peripheral surface of the outlet orifice of the foam receiving chamber 64. This form of the invention, like that illustrated in FIGURES 1 through 3 is provided with a foam producing porous member or screen 42 adjacent the upper end of the foamer fitment. Further by grasping the fluted portion 56 of the fitment 36' the assembly illustrated in FIGURE 5 may be removed from the neck 16 of the container 12' leaving only the spray and drop wise producing structures which are specifically illustrated in FIG- URES 1 through 3.

From the foregoing description of the invention, it will be seen that the combination dispenser fully accomplishes all of the objects and advantages hereinbefore set forth. It will be further appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made in the form of the structures described without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For example, while the container 12 has been specifically described as of the squeeze bottle type the dispenser per se may be operated with a rigid container having connection to a compressed source of air, nitrogen, Freon, etc., or the container may be of the pressure fluid aerosol can type.

I claim:

1. a combination dispenser comprising a container having an outlet opening and a formulation supply zone, an outlet orifice member releasably carried over the outlet opening, a dip tube depending from said outlet orifice for directing liquid from the supply zone to the outlet orifice when the contents of the container are pressurized, a tubular foamer fitment releasably and coaxially carried by said outlet orifice member, said fitment having an' opening of substantially larger diameter than said outlet opening therethrough, a porous element mounted in said fitment across the said opening and in spaced relation to said outlet orifice, and closure means for said dispenser.

2. A combination dispenser comprising a container having an outlet opening and a deformable sidewall, an outlet orifice member releasably carried over the outlet opening, a dip tube depending from said outlet orifice member for directing liquid from the container to the outlet orifice when the container sidewall is squeezed inwardly, a tubular foamer fitment releasably and coaxially carried by said outlet orifice member, said fitment member having an opening of substantially larger diameter than said outlet opening therethrough, a porous element mounted in said fitment across the said opening and in spaced relation to said outlet orifice, a foam receiving chamber member having an opening therethrough releasably carried by said foamer fitment and closure means for said dispenser.

3. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said porous 15 element comprises a fine mesh screen.

6 4. The invention defined in claim 2 wherein said closure member for said dispenser is selectively and releasably engageable with the said foam receiving chamber member and with said outlet orifice member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 644,703 3/ 1900 Buckley 239327 1,738,691 12/1929 Campanella 239327 X 10 2,729,505 1/1956 Harvey 239327 2,796,294 6/1957 McKinnon 239-327 3,010,613 11/1961 Stossel 222119 ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner. STANLEY H. TOLLBERG, Examiner. 

1. A COMBINATION DISPENSER COMPRISING A CONTAINER HAVING AN OUTLET OPENING AND A FORMULATION SUPPLY ZONE, AN OUTLET ORIFICE MEMBER RELEASABLY CARRIED OVER THE OUTLET OPENING, A DIP TUBE DEPENDING FROM SAID OUTLET ORIFICE FOR DIRECTING LIQUID FROM THE SUPPLY ZONE TO THE OUTLET ORIFICE WHEN THE CONTENTS OF THE CONTAINER ARE PRESSURIZED, A TUBULAR FOAMER FITMENT RELEASABLY AND COAXIALLY CARRIED BY SAID OUTLET ORIFICE MEMBER, SAID FITMENT HAVING AN OPENING OF SUBSTANTIALLY LANGEAR DIAMETER THAN SAID OUTLET OPENING THERETHROUGH, A POROUS ELEMENT MOUNTED IN SAID FITMENT ACROSS THE SAID OPENING AND IN SPACED RELATION TO SAID OUTLET ORIFICE, AND CLOSURE MEANS FOR SAID DISPENSER. 